Its name is the genus of the tropical Scheffler plantsThe family Araliaceae, to which sheffler is referred to as radiant or stellate (Sch. actinophylla), her homeland of New Zealand, was derived from the name of the famous German botanist Jacob Christian Scheffler (18th century). The genus includes more than 150 species, among which in natural conditions there are shrubs, small and even large trees reaching a height of 40 m and more. 
Scheffler careShell leather sheffleryshiny green palchatoraschennye leaves, consisting of 4-8 pointed leaves (20 cm in length and more, with a width of up to 5 cm), which come out of one point, like the spokes of an umbrella. In the room, it can reach a height of 1.5-2.5 m, although in nature, trees in 4-8 m are considered typical. In Sheffler, small, unattractive white flowers in umbrellas collected in a complex paniculate inflorescence, but in room conditions, as a rule, does not bloom. By the way, it was thanks to the characteristic inflorescence of tentacles in subtropical parks that this tree was called an "octopus tree". Some experts consider the sheffler to be an unpretentious care for a plant, but this is difficult to agree with. It is located in a well-ventilated place and in bright diffused light (without burning sun rays). It is permissible, as for a quite shade-loving plant, to place the sheffler in a somewhat darkened place; it normally develops under artificial illumination. A pot with a low plant can be placed on the windowsill of the oriental window, but if the plant becomes cramped there, it is transferred to the floor. On summer time, the sheffler can be taken to fresh air and placed under the protection of tall trees, or regular airing of the room. For this period, the optimum temperature for the content is 18 ... 22 ° C. Although some growers consider this crop to be sufficiently resistant to increased dryness of air and drafts, I think that as a tropical plant it should still be provided with a rather high humidity in the room and insure against drafts, and when the dryness of air is combined with a high (24 ... 26 ° C), the temperature should be applied daily (morning and evening) to foliage with soft water at room temperature. The soil is watered with the same water, avoiding overmoistening. Periodically, they arrange a shower for the Sheffler. Carry out fertilizing (once every 3 weeks) in the form of solutions, alternating organic and mineral fertilizers. 
Scheffler care at homerequires very good lighting; it is tolerant to 13 ... 14 ° С, however long stay at temperature below 100С can lead to mass falling of leaves. During this period, watering is extremely moderate (feeding is unacceptable). It must be borne in mind that the sheffler is very sensitive both to the drying of the soil coma and to its excessive moistening. Young specimens of this plant are transplanted in spring every year, adults - every 2-3 years. The soil substrate when growing sheffler must be fertile, light (well permeable). According to experts, the soil mixture is optimal from compost and peat land, large river sand (in the ratio of 3: 1: 1.5) or from turf, sheet, humus and sand (2: 1: 1: 1). Although it should be noted that even large specimens of the Sheffler successfully grow in close containers, if they are properly taken care of, ie, timely watered, fed and cut. Since the sheffler is very sensitive to the excess moisture in the soil substrate, a sufficiently high (5-7 cm) drainage layer of small stones or pieces of a broken pot is necessarily arranged at the bottom of the landing tank. It is important that the drainage hole is not blocked at the bottom, through which excess water escapes. For successful multiplication, the sheffler at home with semi-aged cuttings (7-10 cm long) taken from the middle part of the stem, stimulants (for example, heteroauxin or rootstock) can not be avoided. Cuttings are cut with a sharp knife neatly (immediately under the knot), since the juice in the sheffler is poisonous, and remove excess leaves. After treatment with the stimulus solution, the cuttings are planted in pure sand or a mixture of it with peat (1: 1), having previously made grooves in the substrate. Each stalk is planted to the first leaf (then carefully ground around the stems). After that cuttings are covered with a polyethylene bag and provide scattered light; preferably take care of the lower heating. After the appearance of new leaves, the polyethylene bag is removed, allowing the cuttings to gradually acclimate to the environment. Rooted seedlings are transplanted in pots with a soil mixture of turf, leaf, peat soil and sand (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1.5). 
If the florist uses theretail sale by seeds, then after their sowing (in January-February) to a depth of 0.5 cm, the container is covered with glass, the temperature is 22 ... 25 ° C, but at emergence (after about 2-3 weeks) it is reduced to 18 ... 20 FROM. For the reproduction of this culture, you can try the way of "air layers", I was convinced of its high efficiency by visiting the large greenhouses of the Moscow-based giant farm "Krasnaya Niva", engaged in reproduction of a huge number of perennial houseplants and bonsai. On the top of the branch (with 2-3 sheets) make a third of the thickness of the stem incision, which is inserted into a piece of thin glass (otherwise the incision quickly "swims"). Then the stem in the place of the incision is wrapped with wet sphagnum, which must be moistened daily. After such a monthly maintenance, the branch in the damaged area gives a good root system, after which it can be separated from the uterine plant. Although in the room, this method is not always possible, but it can be tried. It is very important to properly form a sheffler, then it will become a true decoration of any indoor flower garden. To this end, the excessively enlarged ends of the sheffler are plucked to make the plant caress. But we must admit that the scaffler is not very willing to branch. This creates difficulties in the formation of its crown. It is for this reason that, for greater decorativeness, some growers occasionally plant young or stubbornly unbranched plants 3-4 copies each in one pot, bringing their trunks closer together and thus obtaining the effect of an original looking "bush". In addition, this method of pre-planting several plants in one container eliminates the need to trim an adult plant, which greatly reduces the decorative qualities of the latter. Of course, in trade you can buy already formed (quite branched) copy. Its appearance is a well-developed tall bush of this beautiful ornamental foliage plant with large, spectacular palatosyllabic leaves attracts gaze and decorates the room. It is equally suitable for large halls and winter gardens, reception rooms and offices of various offices, for spacious living rooms. 
However, one must remember:in order for shefflera radiant to look good and delight us with its beauty, you should constantly take care of the purity of its leaves, periodically wiping them with a dry soft cloth - this gives them a very pleasant soft shine. Although Schefflera belongs to the Araliev group, which includes such famous medicinal plants as ginseng, aralia and others, scientists have not yet found medicinal compounds in this plant, but they believe that it is already very valuable for neutralizing harmful substances and humidifying the air. ... It should also be remembered that radiant shefflera vegetable juice contains compounds that irritate the skin and mucous membranes. For this reason, some care must be taken when cutting and grafting a plant, and also not to place it in an apartment if there are small children. Let me also remind you that with waterlogging of the soil substrate or with sharp temperature fluctuations in the room (as well as with too high a temperature in summer), foliage may fall off. Poor plant growth or yellowing of its leaves may be the result of a lack of nutrients. From time to time it is necessary to carefully check, especially if the plant was outdoors in summer, whether there are any pests on it. When buying in a store, the sheffler also needs to carefully examine to make sure that she is not affected by mealybugs, scale insects, aphids or mites. In the presence of these pests, it is better to refuse to purchase such a specimen. It is known that aphids severely damage and deform young leaves, and spider mites cause them to turn yellow and dry, which leads to premature loss of leaves. If you find these pests on the sheffler at home, then apply insecticides. Against a tick (it often appears with high dry air), spray it 2-3 times with a 0.1% solution of neoron (with an interval of 7-10 days), and against a scale insect, aphids and a mealybug - with a 0.2% solution actellika. Before spraying, the plant is watered abundantly. The air temperature during processing should not be lower than 20 ° C. I will add that sometimes plants are on sale in which, to enhance the decorative effect, the leaves are covered with a special shiny composition - "polish". However, there is information that such a composition somewhat complicates the activity of the stomata and reduces the respiration of the foliage. A little less often you can find on sale to the sheffler tree (S. arboricola), which is characterized by smaller elliptical leathery leaves than that of the sheffler radiant. The whole plant looks more compact. Now this species is represented by a fairly wide variety of varieties, both with green and with variously colored leaves: Compacta, Melanyla, Soleil, Gold Capella, Green Capella, Compacta and others. In indoor floriculture, the eight-leafed sheffler (Sch. Octophylla) with bright veins on the leaves and the finger sheffler (Sch. Digitata) are also cultivated. Schefflera eight-leafed from East Asia (Taiwan Island) is a small evergreen tree or shrub with an openwork crown covered with palmate-complex leaves on long petioles. It has 6-8 elliptical leaflets (7-15 cm long, 2.5-5 cm wide) on small (1-2 cm) petioles.
